JP7684103B2 - Belt conveyor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a suspended belt conveyor supported by a cable stretched along the conveying direction.

As this type of belt conveyor, for example, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is known.
The belt conveyor described in the document has at least a pair of support columns, and a conveyor frame is supported in the conveying direction by two upper cables and two lower cables that are stretched between the pair of support columns in a catenary curve.

EP1958896B1 (FIG5)

However, a suspended belt conveyor that does not have a rigid frame, such as the belt conveyor described in the document, has a problem in that it is vulnerable to cross winds.
The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a suspension-type belt conveyor that can withstand cross winds.

In order to solve the above problems, a belt conveyor according to one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a conveyor body supported by a plurality of cables stretched along a load transport direction, an endless conveyor belt that is looped around a plurality of rollers of the conveyor body along the load transport direction so as to be able to circulate infinitely, and a vibration prevention wire having one end connected to at least one of the installation locations of the conveyor body and the other end hanging down and fixed to the ground surface.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a belt conveyor is provided with an anti-sway wire, one end of which is connected to at least one of the locations where the conveyor body is installed and the other end of which is hung down to the ground and fixed thereto, thereby making the conveyor body structured to withstand cross winds.

As described above, the present invention provides a suspended belt conveyor that can withstand cross winds.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a suspended belt conveyor according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main portion of the belt conveyor of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of the belt conveyor of FIG. 2. 4A and 4B are schematic enlarged views of a main part of FIG. 3, in which FIG. 4A is a partial view seen from an arrow A, and FIG. 4B is a partial view seen from an arrow B. FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of a suspended belt conveyor according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are schematic. Therefore, it should be noted that the relationship between thickness and planar dimensions, ratios, etc. are different from the actual ones, and the drawings also include parts where the relationship and ratio of dimensions differ from each other.
Furthermore, the embodiments described below are merely examples of devices and methods for embodying the technical ideas of the present invention, and the technical ideas of the present invention do not limit the materials, shapes, structures, arrangements, etc. of the components to the embodiments described below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment is a suspended belt conveyor, and has a pair of main cables 20 stretched along the direction of transport of the load, and multiple pairs of hanger wires 30 hanging down from each of the pair of main cables 20 at positions facing each other in the width direction. The conveyor body 40 of the belt conveyor 100 is supported along the transport direction by the multiple pairs of hanger wires 30 in the middle of the transport path.

The conveyor body 40 has a cylindrical header roller 41 located at the leading end of the conveying path, and a cylindrical footer roller 42 located at the trailing end. The conveyor belt 90 is wound between the header roller 41 and the footer roller 42 so that it can circulate endlessly along the conveying path. The conveyor belt 90 is wound around the conveyor body 40 in a flat, spread-out state near the header roller 41 and the footer roller 42.

A drive unit 43 is attached to the header roller 41 in the vicinity. A hopper 44 is provided to the side of the header roller 41 so that excavated soil and other loads can be dumped. A dumping device 45 is disposed on the footer roller 42 side, which dumps excavated soil and other loads onto the conveyor belt 90. Also disposed on the footer roller 42 side are a tensioning mechanism for the conveyor belt 90, a counterweight, a cleaning device, and other equipment (not shown).

The belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment has multiple main towers 10. Each main tower 10 is constructed from steel or reinforced concrete on a foundation at a distance in the width direction. If the foundation is located underwater, the main towers 10 can be constructed by submerging a caisson in the water and pouring concrete into it to construct the foundation. Anchors 11 are constructed at both ends of the main towers 10 located at both ends. The anchors 11 are concrete blocks constructed at both ends of the suspended belt conveyor 100, and function as anchors to tie down the main cable 20. If there are topographical constraints or solid bedrock, the bearing capacity of the ground can also be utilized.

In the belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment, as shown in an enlarged view in Fig. 2, a main cable 20 is stretched between at least two adjacent main towers. As shown in a perspective view in Fig. 3, the main cable 20 is composed of a pair of main cables 20L, 20R that are spaced apart in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and form a catenary curve. Hereinafter, when there is no particular need to distinguish between the pair of main cables 20L, 20R, they will also be simply referred to as "main cables 20".
A plurality of steel wires (piano wires) bundled in parallel is usually used as the main cable 20. The main cable 20 may be subjected to a surface treatment using rubber or paint to prevent corrosion (rust).

In this embodiment, a pair of main cables 20L, 20R are hung between each main tower 10 and the anchor 11, and between a pair of adjacent main towers 10, as shown in Fig. 1. The main cables 20 are hung on the top saddles 10s of each main tower 10, and hang the conveyor body 40 along the conveying direction through the hanger wires 30.
A plurality of pairs of hanger wires 30L, 30R hang down from appropriate positions of the pair of main cables 20L, 20R at positions facing each other in the width direction. As with the "main cable 20," hereinafter, when there is no particular need to distinguish between the pairs of hanger wires 30L, 30R, they will also be referred to simply as "hanger wires 30."

In this embodiment, the hanger wire 30 is set to different lengths depending on the position in the conveying direction in order to connect the main cable 20, which forms a catenary line, to the roller brackets 60 so that the arrangement posture of the multiple roller brackets 60 is approximately horizontal, as shown in Figure 2.
A twisted wire is used for the hanger wire 30. The plurality of hanger wires 30 hang down from the main cable 20 to substantially horizontally support the conveyor body 40. The hanger wires 30 hang down from the main cable 20 at predetermined intervals.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper ends of each hanger wire 30L, 30R are connected to the corresponding main cables 20L, 20R by cable bands 33, and the hanger wires 30L and 30R hang down at a predetermined interval from the pair of main cables 20L, 20R, respectively.
3 and 4, in this embodiment, the lower end 32 of the hanger wire 30 is fixed to the upper surface of the cross beam 50. A return roller set 62 that constitutes the return path among the multiple guide rollers is provided on the upper surface of the cross beam 50. A pair of vertical beams 72 is hung between both side portions of the multiple cross beams 50.

Of the pair of vertical beams 72, roller brackets 60 are provided at positions facing each other in the width direction between the inner vertical beams 72, and a carrier roller set 61 is supported by each roller bracket 60. The carrier roller set 61 constitutes the outgoing path of the multiple guide rollers.
More specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the conveyor body 40 of this embodiment has a plurality of guide rollers in the middle of the conveying path, which are a plurality of upper carrier roller sets 61 and a plurality of lower return roller sets 62. Each of the carrier roller sets 61 and the return roller sets 62 is configured with a plurality of cylindrical guide rollers, and both ends of each guide roller are supported so as to be freely rotatable around its own axis.

In this embodiment, the upper carrier roller set 61 is provided on a gate-shaped roller bracket 60. In this embodiment, the carrier roller set 61 is mounted on the roller bracket 60, and each roller bracket 60 is formed into a gate shape using thin rectangular pillar members so as to be less susceptible to the effects of wind. The lower ends of the left and right support columns 60h of the roller bracket 60 are fixed to the inner surfaces of the pair of inner vertical beams 72, respectively.
The upper carrier roller set 61 supports, for example, five guide rollers (carrier rollers) in a U-shape upwardly by connecting them in a rosary shape with a roller support wire 61w connected to the roller bracket 60, and holds each guide roller rotatably about its axis. In this embodiment, both ends of the roller support wire 61w are fixed to fixing parts 61j of the roller bracket 60, thereby supporting the multiple guide rollers so that they can roll freely.

The lower return roller set 62 supports, for example, two guide rollers (return rollers) in a nearly flat V-shape by a support bracket 62b, and holds each guide roller rotatably about its axis.
As a result, in this embodiment, each of the upper multiple carrier roller groups 61 provided on the roller bracket 60 transports the conveyor belt 90 in a semicircular arc-shaped support state with a cross section that opens upward and is approximately U-shaped on the outbound journey, and on the return journey, the lower multiple return roller groups 62 transport the conveyor belt 90 in a substantially flat state.

4, in this embodiment, the outgoing guide pitch Pc in the outgoing path by the carrier roller pairs 61 adjacent in the conveying direction and the return guide pitch Pr in the return path by the return roller pairs 62 adjacent in the conveying direction are configured so that the outgoing guide pitch Pc is smaller than the return guide pitch Pr (Pc<Pr). In this embodiment, the outgoing guide pitch Pc is set to 1/2 of the return guide pitch Pr (i.e., 2×Pc=Pr).
As a result, the belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment has a large number of carrier roller sets 61 on the outbound path, which receives a large load of the load, and a small number of return roller sets 62 on the return path, which does not receive a load of the load, thereby simplifying the overall conveyor equipment while maintaining a stable conveying capacity.

In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the conveyor body 40 of the belt conveyor 100 has an insulation structure DS in which at least one adjacent cross beam 50 is not connected by a vertical beam 72, and thus does not have a firm connection between the cross beams 50. Note that Fig. 3 shows one insulation unit in which the front and rear of one vertical beam 72 are separated from the other vertical beam 72 adjacent to it in the conveying direction.
The floor plate 70 and the vertical beam 72 may have a split structure or a joint structure at an appropriate location in the conveying direction. This split structure or joint structure may be provided at the cross beam 50 or between adjacent cross beams 50. It is preferable to arrange the split structure parts of the floor plate 70 and the vertical beam 72 at the location where the insulation structure DS is provided. In particular, in this embodiment, the split structure parts of the floor plate 70 and the vertical beam 72 are arranged at the cross beam 50.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to allow workers to walk on the conveyor body 40 of the belt conveyor 100, a floor plate 70 such as a punched metal plate is placed and fixed on the upper surfaces of two adjacent vertical beams 72 on the side, and a walkway serving as a work passage W is provided. The walkway serving as the work passage W is arranged along the conveying direction and protrudes laterally in the width direction beyond the left and right supports 60h of the roller brackets 60.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, two anti-sway wires 80L, 80R are provided on the underside of all cross beams 50 of the conveyor body 40, spaced apart in the width direction. In other words, each anti-sway wire 80L, 80R is provided at each of the locations where the multiple hanger wires 30L, 30R are arranged. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between the two anti-sway wires 80L, 80R, they will also be simply referred to as "anti-sway wires 80."

In this embodiment, the belt conveyor 100 is provided with a vibration prevention wire 80 at least at one location in the middle of the conveying path of the conveyor body 40, the wire having one end connected thereto and the other end hanging down and fixed to the ground surface.
In addition, the anti-sway wire 80 is not limited to being provided at all installation locations of the hanger wires 30, but can be provided at a ratio of one wire out of every several installation locations of the multiple hanger wires 30 (for example, it can be provided at every other location or every third location).
The upper end 83 of each anti-sway wire 80 is fixed to the underside of the cross beam 50, and the anchor 82 at the lower end of the anti-sway wire 80 is embedded in the ground surface and firmly fixed thereto. In this embodiment, the anti-sway wires 80 are provided on the underside of all the cross beams 50 in the same configuration.

Next, the operation and effects of the belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment will be described.
In the belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment, when the header roller 41 is driven by the driving device 43, the conveyor belt 90 starts infinite circulation between the leading header roller 41 and the trailing footer roller 42. The conveyor belt 90 is wound in a flat and spread state near the cylindrical header roller 41 and the cylindrical footer roller 42.
In the middle of the conveying path, in the upper outward path, the conveyor belt 90 is conveyed in a semicircular arc shape supported by a plurality of carrier roller sets 61 of a roller bracket 60 such that the cross section of the conveyor belt 90 opening upward is substantially U-shaped. Furthermore, in the lower return path, the conveyor belt 90 is conveyed in a substantially flat state by a plurality of return roller sets 62.

As a result, according to the belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment, the endless conveyor belt 90 is supported in a substantially U-shape on the outward journey, which prevents cargo from spilling during transport. In addition, since the outward journey is substantially flat, the height of the conveyor body 40 can be made compact. This is advantageous in simplifying the overall conveyor equipment. Although not shown in the above embodiment, it is preferable to cover the top of the roller bracket 60 with a roof or cover.

Here, for example, the suspended belt conveyor described in Patent Document 1 has a problem of being vulnerable to cross winds. In contrast, according to the belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment, as described above, the conveyor body 40 has a vibration prevention wire 80, one end of which is connected to at least one point in the middle of the conveying path of the conveyor body 40 and the other end of which is fixed to the ground surface, so that the lateral vibration of the conveyor body 40 is significantly reduced.
In other words, while a suspended conveyor has the drawback of being easily swayed by wind or weight, the anti-sway wire 80 pulls the conveyor body 40 downward, and the main cable 20 and the hanger wire 30 pull the conveyor body 40 upward, so that the conveyor body 40 does not easily move even if it is exposed to wind from the side, and the lateral swaying of the belt conveyor 100 can be significantly reduced.

Here, the suspended belt conveyor described in Patent Document 1 is a so-called "catenary conveyor", whereas the suspended belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment is a so-called "suspension conveyor".
That is, according to the belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment, the conveyor body 40 is supported along the conveying direction by a plurality of pairs of hanger wires 30 suspended from a pair of main cables 20L, 20R. Therefore, even if the conveying path of the conveyor body 40 is arranged to be horizontal, it is possible to reduce the tension of the pair of main cables 20L, 20R as much as possible, and the entire conveyor equipment constituting the belt conveyor 100 can be simply configured.

In particular, according to the belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment, the conveyor body 40 has an insulating structure DS that does not have a rigid connection between at least one adjacent location among the multiple cross beams 50, so that even if the conveying path by the conveyor body 40 is arranged horizontally, the tension of the pair of main cables 20L, 20R can be made as small as possible, which is preferable for simplifying the entire conveyor equipment.
Furthermore, according to the belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment, the conveyor body 40 is arranged along the conveying direction, extends laterally in the width direction beyond the conveyor belt 90, and has a work passage W that serves as a walkway along which workers can walk, so that the entire conveyor equipment is simply constructed and has excellent maintainability.

As described above, according to the belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment, the conveyor body 40 is provided with an anti-sway wire 80 having one end connected to at least one location in the middle of the conveying path and the other end hung down to the ground and fixed thereto, and thus can withstand crosswinds.
The belt conveyor according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, a configuration example in which the cross beam 50 is supported by the hanger wire 30 has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which the carrier roller set 61 and the return roller set 62 are directly supported by the hanger wire 30 without providing the cross beam 50 may be adopted.
Even with this configuration, even if the conveying path of the conveyor body 40 is arranged horizontally, the tension in the pair of main cables 20 can be made as small as possible, and the entire conveyor equipment can be configured simply.

In addition, for example, in the above embodiment, a "suspension type conveyor" has been described as an example of a suspended belt conveyor, but the configuration having an anti-sway wire is not limited to this, and for example, a configuration having an anti-sway wire for a "catenary type conveyor" may be used.
In other words, as shown in FIG. 5, this catenary conveyor 100B comprises at least two main towers 10B, a pair of main cables 20B, 20B that are suspended between the two main towers 10B along the conveying direction and are spaced apart in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, a conveyor body 40B that is supported by the pair of main cables 20B, 20B to draw a catenary curve, and an endless conveyor belt 90B that is wrapped around rollers supported by the conveyor body 40B along the conveying direction.

In the example shown in the figure, the anti-sway wire 80 is suspended from an arbitrary point of the conveyor frame 40f constituting the conveyor body 40B and fixed to the ground surface GL. In this way, the present invention can be provided with an anti-sway wire 80 whose one end is connected to at least one point in the middle of the conveyor body 40B's transport path and whose other end is suspended and fixed to the ground surface, even for a "catenary-type conveyor" as shown in the figure.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Main tower 11 Anchor 20 Main cable 30 Hanger wire 40 Conveyor body 41 Header roller 42 Footer roller 43 Driving device 44 Hopper 45 Feeding device 50 Cross beam 60 Roller bracket 61 Carrier roller set 62 Return roller set 70 Floor plate 71 Fence 72 Vertical beam 80 Anti-sway wire 90 Conveyor belt 100 Belt conveyor DS Insulation structure W Work passage (walkway)

Claims (6)

At least two towers;
A conveyor body supported by a plurality of cables stretched between the two main towers along the transport direction of the load;
an endless conveyor belt that is wound around a plurality of rollers of the conveyor body in the conveying direction so as to be infinitely circulable;
a vibration-stop wire having one end connected to at least one location along the conveying direction and a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in a middle portion of the conveyor body , and having the other end hanging down and fixed to the ground;
A belt conveyor comprising: A pair of main cables are stretched between the two main towers at a distance in the width direction and stretched to draw a catenary curve;
A plurality of pairs of hanger wires suspended from each of the pair of main cables at positions opposed to each other in the width direction;
the conveyor body, a middle portion of which in the conveying direction is supported by the plurality of pairs of hanger wires;
2. The belt conveyor of claim 1, comprising: The conveyor body includes:
A plurality of cross beams supported horizontally along the width direction by each pair of the plurality of pairs of hanger wires;
A pair of vertical beams each extending across both sides of the plurality of horizontal beams;
A carrier roller pair is provided between the pair of vertical beams at positions facing each other in the width direction and constitutes an outward path among the plurality of rollers;
A return roller set provided on the cross beam and constituting a return path among the plurality of rollers;
3. The belt conveyor of claim 2, comprising: 4. The belt conveyor according to claim 2, wherein the anti-sway wires are provided at locations where the pairs of hanger wires are arranged. 5. The belt conveyor according to claim 4, wherein the anti-sway wire is provided at a ratio of one to a plurality of locations among the locations where the plurality of pairs of hanger wires are arranged. A pair of main cables are spanned between the two main towers along the transport direction and spaced apart in the width direction;
the conveyor body supported by the pair of main cables so as to form a catenary curve;
2. The belt conveyor of claim 1, comprising:

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